Portable traction device with sling

Abstract

A portable traction device can include a sling that is sized to cradle a user's head primarily at the back and lower part of the skull. The sling can be associated with flexible elastic tethers that are, in turn, associated with an anchor that is positioned a height above the floor when the portable traction device is in use. A tensile force vector between the anchor and the sling allows for cervical traction. The sling can additionally be associated with speakers and/or resonant actuators and can be simplified to increase portability and ease of use.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cervical traction system comprising:
 a two-piece portable traction device, comprising:
 a sling assembly, comprising:
 a sling comprising flexible material and being sized and shaped to cradle and engage an occipital bone portion of a user's head via at least a frictional portion of the sling disposed between a superior edge and an inferior edge of the sling; 
 a pair of multi-strand elastic cords attached to the sling at each first end of the pair of multi-strand elastic cords, the pair of multi-strand elastic cords being joined at second ends thereof; and 
 a portion of a quick release connector associated with the second ends of the pair of multi-strand elastic cords; and 
 
 an anchor operable to selectively attach to an anchoring object, the anchor comprising:
 a complementary quick release connector configured to connect with the portion of the quick release connector of the sling assembly; and 
 a strap associated with the complementary quick release connector at a first end and extending to a second end defining a loop, wherein an anchor tab is disposed on the strap between the first end and the second end. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The cervical traction system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of speakers connected to the sling, wherein the pair of speakers are positioned at or near respective ears of a user while the portable traction device is in use. 
     
     
       3. The cervical traction system of  claim 2 , further comprising a resonant actuator connected to the sling, wherein the resonant actuator is positioned at or near the occipital bone portion of a user while the portable traction device is in use. 
     
     
       4. The cervical traction system of  claim 3 , further comprising a control module accessible on or through an exterior layer of the sling. 
     
     
       5. The cervical traction system of  claim 4 , wherein the control module is in electrical communication with the speaker and the resonant actuator. 
     
     
       6. The cervical traction system of  claim 4 , wherein the control module is operable to perform one or more of adjusting a volume of the pair of speakers or adjusting a vibrational intensity of the resonant actuator. 
     
     
       7. A portable traction device for providing cervical traction, the portable traction device comprising:
 a sling comprising flexible material, the sling extending between first and second ends and being configured to cradle a user's head during use; 
 an elastic portion secured to the first and second ends of the sling; 
 an anchor connector associated with the elastic portion; and 
 an anchor operable to selectively attach to an anchoring object, the anchor comprising a strap extending between an anchor tab and a complementary anchor connector configured to selectively engage the anchor connector of the elastic portion, 
 wherein the elastic portion is strained and at an acute angle relative to a floor while the portable traction device is in use, the strained elastic portion producing a tensile force in a direction of the acute angle. 
 
     
     
       8. The portable traction device of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of cushions associated with the sling and disposed between the first and second ends thereof. 
     
     
       9. The portable traction device of  claim 8 , wherein the sling comprises an arcuate superior edge extending between the first and second ends of the sling. 
     
     
       10. The portable traction device of  claim 9 , wherein the arcuate superior edge defines an enlarged frictional portion of the sling configured to cradle a user's head during use and wherein the sling does not include any of a chin strap or a forehead strap. 
     
     
       11. The portable traction device of  claim 7 , wherein the elastic portion is secured to the first and second ends of the sling at respective attachment points. 
     
     
       12. The portable traction device of  claim 11 , wherein the elastic portion comprises two segments, each segment extending from a proximal end associated with the respective attachment point on the sling to a distal end. 
     
     
       13. The portable traction device of  claim 12 , wherein the distal ends of the two segments converge. 
     
     
       14. The portable traction device of  claim 7 , wherein the elastic portion comprises two separate multi-strand elastic cords associated with the sling at proximal ends thereof and associated with the anchor connector at distal ends thereof. 
     
     
       15. The portable traction device of  claim 14 , further comprising a strap portion disposed between and connecting the proximal ends of the two separate multi-strand elastic cords with the anchor connector. 
     
     
       16. The portable traction device as in  claim 7 , further comprising a base cushion disposed centrally between the first and second end of the sling and a resonant actuator associated with the base cushion. 
     
     
       17. A method of applying cervical traction comprising:
 providing the portable traction device as in  claim 7 ; 
 attaching the anchor of the portable traction device to an anchoring object at a height above a floor; 
 stretching elastic portion to produce a tensile force having a horizontal vector component towards the anchor and a vertical vector component perpendicular to the horizontal component and upward away from the portable traction device; and 
 cradling a head of a substantially supine user within the sling while the elastic portion is stretched, wherein the substantially supine user's feet are positioned in a direction substantially opposite the horizontal vector component. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising activating a resonant actuator associated with the sling of the portable traction device. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising activating a speaker integrated into the sling of the portable traction device via a control module having user input controls accessible on or through an exterior layer of the sling, wherein activating a speaker comprises instantiating aural feedback through the speaker or adjusting a volume of the speaker. 
     
     
       20. A portable traction device for providing cervical traction to a user in a supine position, the portable traction device comprising:
 a first assembly, comprising:
 a flexible sling extending between first and second ends and configured to cradle a user's head during use; 
 an elastic portion secured at a proximal end to the first and second ends of the sling; and 
 a quick-release connector associated with a distal end of the elastic portion; and 
 
 a second assembly operable to selectively attach to an anchoring object, the second assembly comprising a strap extending between an anchor tab and a complementary quick-release connector configured to selectively engage the quick-release connector of the elastic portion of the first assembly, 
 wherein the anchor tab has a thickness greater than a thickness of the strap, and 
 wherein the elastic portion of the first assembly is strained and at an acute angle relative to a floor while the portable traction device is in use, the strained elastic portion producing a tensile force in a direction of the acute angle.